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Lifespan and Personality Development

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Lifespan and Personality Development

Adolescence

There are many factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral and personality development in an adolescent. Adolescence as defined in the dictionary, is the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development extending mainly over the teen years (RHCD, 1980).

Adolescence is the time that can bring various changes physical, social and emotional. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty. This usually occurs during the ages of twelve to twenty years old. Puberty is the period during which the reproductive system matures. This process is characterized by the increase in sex hormones (RHCD, 1980).
Heredity and the environment both plays a significant role in the development of various human traits. Genes are determinants of heredity, and each individual carries genes from the mother and father. Characteristics such as height, weight, skin color, eye and hair color are all determined through the balance of genes in the body. Genes are responsible for cognitive and mental processes as well as physical features (ehow.com).

Adolescents undergo a wide range of physical changes in a very short time, which is a result of biological and hereditary factors, but environmental influences are also significant. There are rapid height and weight gains, which generally takes place earlier in girls, more body fat is generated in girls where muscles are developed in boys. Changes in hormone levels trigger the development of sexual characteristics: these include the growth of body hair, first menstruation, development of the larynx causing voice changes in the males, changes in the skin and sebaceous structures of both sexes. The brain also continues to develop, which has an impact on emotional and social development as well as cognitive faculties. Although genetic traits and hormone activity

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